Queensland in July 2019: Rainfall below average in the southeast

Rainfall was well above average across Queensland's central interior, while below average rainfall was recorded in the southeast. Daytime temperatures were generally warmer than average in southern and western Queensland. Above average overnight temperatures were recorded in the northwest and southern parts of the State.

Above average falls in the central interior; dry in the southeast

  • Above average rainfall was recorded in the central interior; also the central coast and northern interior
  • It was dry across the State at the beginning of the month, before showers and moderate falls were recorded over central inland districts and the north tropical coast between the 5th and the 9th from an upper-level trough
  • The second half of the month was clear and dry across the State
  • Large areas of southeast and far northern Queensland recorded below average rainfall in July, and a few sites in the Darling Downs had their  driest July since the early 1970s
  • Year-to-date rainfall is above average in the northern tropics, and below average in the southeastern quarter of the State. Areas of lowest on record persist in the southern Darling Downs

Warmer than usual days in the south

  • For Queensland as a whole, the mean maximum temperature was the sixth-warmest on record for July at 1.86 °C above average
  • Queensland's mean minimum temperature was 1.31 °C above average, and the State's overall mean temperature was 1.59 °C warmer than average
  • Daytime temperatures were generally above average in southern and western Queensland, while remaining parts of the State were near-average; some sites had their highest July mean daily maximum temperature on record
  • Overnight temperatures were warmer than usual in the northwest and southern inland districts, and close to average across the rest of the State
  • Year-to-date temperatures for Queensland are warmer than average for mean, maximum and minimum temperatures, with record warm days in the southeast and southern Darling Downs

Further information

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Extremes in July 2019
Hottest day 33.6 °C at Coconut Island on the 6th
Warmest days on average 32.2 °C at Coconut Island
Coolest days on average 16.5 °C at Applethorpe
Coldest day 11.7 °C at Applethorpe on the 15th
Coldest night -7.0 °C at Stanthorpe Leslie Parade on the 19th
Coolest nights on average 1.0 °C at Stanthorpe Leslie Parade
Warmest nights on average 23.7 °C at Coconut Island
Warmest night 25.2 °C at Coconut Island on the 8th
Warmest on average overall 27.9 °C at Coconut Island
Coolest on average overall 9.2 °C at Stanthorpe Leslie Parade
Driest overall 0 mm at several locations, mostly in the west
Wettest overall at least 184.5 mm at Babinda Post Office *
Wettest day 86.0 mm at Babinda Post Office on the 9th
Strongest wind gust 91 km/h at Cape Moreton Lighthouse on the 5th

* note: Babinda Post Office has not yet reported rainfall for the last week of the month, and it is possible their July total will be higher


Maps
ObservedAnomalyDecile rank
Total
rainfall
Map of Rainfall totals Map of Percentage of normal rainfall Map of Rainfall deciles
Mean
daily
maximum
temperatures
Map of Mean maximum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature
Mean
daily
minimum
temperatures
Map of Mean minimum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean minimum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature

Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window



Lowest July total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)
Most recent
lower
Average for
July
Texas Post Office 1.4 1.1 in 1972 41.0
Wallangarra Post Office 2.6 2.1 in 1972 49.4
Stanthorpe Leslie Parade 1.5 1.3 in 1970* 48.0
Glenroy Massie 0.8 0.4 in 1977 36.7
Sandy Cape Lighthouse 6.9 5.8 in 1974* 87.3

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a lower value has gone unreported




Record highest July mean daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
July
Cape Moreton Lighthouse 20.7 = 20.7 in 2016 109 19.0
Amberley AMO 24.0 23.9 in 2018 77 21.3
Oakey Aero 21.2 = 21.2 in 2018 46 18.7
Coolangatta 22.0 21.9 in 2018 30 20.7
Dalby Airport 22.0 21.8 in 2017 27 19.8
Gold Coast Seaway 22.4 22.3 in 2018 27 21.2
Rainbow Beach 22.9 22.4 in 2017 27 21.3
Brisbane Aero 22.0 = 22.0 in 2006 25 20.9
Warwick 20.3 20.1 in 2018 24 18.1
Coconut Island 32.2 32.1 in 2010 22 29.8
Point Lookout 22.5 22.2 in 2017 22 21.1

Highest July mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
higher
Average for
July
Texas Post Office 21.2 21.3 in 1993* 18.8

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported




Record highest July mean temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
July
Point Lookout 18.5 = 18.5 in 2016 22 17.4

Highest July mean temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
higher
Average for
July
Cape Moreton Lighthouse 18.0 18.5 in 1993 16.1



Summary statistics for July 2019
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
July
2019
Diff
from
average
Highest for
July
2019
Mean for
July
2019
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
July
2019
Total for
July
2019
Average
for
July
Rank of
July
2019
Fraction of
July
average
North Peninsula (district 27)
Coconut Island 32.2 +2.4 33.6 6th 23.7 -0.2 21.5 12th 10.0 18.3 low 55%
Coen Airport 28.8 -0.3 30.9 7th 15.0 -2.3 10.3 20th 0 0.6 v low 0%
Horn Island 29.0 +0.1 29.9 8th 22.6 -0.6 19.2 6th 3.6 8.8 low 41%
Scherger RAAF 30.5 -0.5 32.1 9th 17.5 -1.6 14.9 20th 0 1.6 v low 0%
Weipa Aero 30.8 -0.2 32.1 9th 18.0 -1.0 15.7 20th 0 1.4 lowest 0%
South Peninsula (district 28)
Lockhart River Airport 27.4 +0.3 28.6 29th 20.0 +0.5 15.4 5th 22.4 42.1 low 53%
Palmerville 30.1 +0.2 32.2 8th 12.2 -1.9 6.6 16th 0 4.8 lowest 0%
Lower Carpentaria (district 29)
Burketown Airport 29.6 +0.4 32.0 11th 14.9 +0.3 7.3 21st 0.2 2.5 average 8%
Century Mine 29.2 +0.4 31.8 29th 13.7 +0.8 6.2 21st 0 2.8 v low 0%
Cloncurry Airport 26.4 0.0 29.2 23rd 11.9 +1.2 5.5 21st 0.4 3.5 average 11%
Julia Creek Airport 28.1 +0.7 30.6 22nd 10.1 +1.2 3.6 19th 0 8.5 v low 0%
Kowanyama Airport 31.2 +0.4 32.7 10th 15.4 -0.2 9.7 17th 0.6 2.3 high 26%
Lake Julius AWS 27.1   29.9 29th 13.5   7.1 20th 0
Mornington Island Airport 26.2   29.5 30th 16.3   10.9 20th 0.6
Mount Isa Aero 26.2 +1.3 29.4 21st 9.9 +1.2 1.6 21st 0 5.8 lowest 0%
Normanton Airport 30.1 +0.3 32.0 7th 16.2 +0.2 10.8 21st 0 2.7 v low 0%
Sweers Island 25.2 -0.4 27.1 24th 17.6 -0.2 14.2 22nd 0.8 2.8 high 29%
Upper Carpentaria (district 30)
Georgetown Airport 28.7 +0.1 31.3 9th 12.1 -1.2 3.8 16th 0.2 9.9 average 2%
Hughenden Airport 25.5 -0.6 28.5 23rd 9.0 -0.6 1.2 16th 3.2 13.2 average 24%
Richmond Airport 27.2 +0.3 29.6 30th 9.3 +0.3 2.6 19th 0.2 10.9 low 2%
Richmond Post Office 26.9 +0.9 29.4 23rd 10.5 +1.8 4.1 22nd 0.8 9.9 average 8%
Barron North Coast (district 31)
Cairns Aero 26.0 +0.2 28.2 8th 17.1 0.0 11.3 19th 37.0 30.3 average 122%
Cairns Racecourse 25.3   27.5 8th 15.4   8.5 16th 51.8
Cape Flattery 25.9 -0.7 26.9 31st 20.7 -0.5 19.3 25th 36.0 36.5 average 99%
Cooktown Airport 26.0 -0.2 27.2 11th 16.9 -1.2 11.2 20th 22.0 22.7 average 97%
Low Isles Lighthouse 25.4 -0.1 27.0 8th 20.4 -0.1 19.2 18th 26.4 36.0 average 73%
Mareeba Airport 24.5 -0.5 27.8 8th 13.8 -0.1 8.4 17th 4.0 5.6 average 71%
Walkamin Research Station 23.1 -0.2 26.0 8th 12.7 -0.3 7.2 19th 8.7 11.3 average 77%
Herbert North Coast (district 32)
Cardwell Marine Pde 24.7 -0.1 26.2 30th 14.5 +0.7 7.6 16th 28.1 32.3 average 87%
Cowley Beach (Defence) 23.5   25.6 11th 16.4   8.7 16th 86.6
Innisfail 24.0 -0.1 25.8 11th 15.4 +0.1 9.6 16th 165.0 137.5 average 120%
Innisfail Aerodrome 24.1   25.9 11th 13.9   6.1 16th 66.2
Lucinda Point 22.4 -0.7 24.4 11th 18.0 -0.1 13.6 18th 21.2 22.1 high 96%
Mount Stuart (Defence) 25.0   27.4 22nd 15.5   11.9 17th 17.2
South Johnstone Exp Stn 24.0 +0.1 26.2 10th 15.7 +0.5 8.3 16th 89.6 111.3 average 81%
Townsville Aero 25.9 +0.8 27.9 13th 13.8 +0.1 7.5 16th 13.2 14.7 high 90%
Townsville- Air Weapons Range (Defence) 24.6   28.9 19th 11.0   2.5 16th 14.2
East Central Coast (district 33)
Alva Beach 24.0 -0.3 25.8 13th 14.2 -0.2 6.2 16th 23.8 17.3 high 138%
Ayr DPI Research Stn 25.5 +0.3 27.2 13th 12.5 +0.7 5.2 16th 19.0 15.2 high 125%
Bowen Airport AWS 25.1   26.7 28th 13.1   5.4 19th 22.8
Collinsville Post Office 25.8 +0.7 28.1 12th 9.3 +0.2 2.2 19th 15.6 19.5 average 80%
Hamilton Island Airport 21.1 -0.5 22.9 11th 18.0 0.0 15.3 15th 121.8 43.8 high 278%
Mackay Aero 22.9 +0.2 24.9 13th 11.6 +0.2 4.1 15th
Mackay M.O 21.7 +0.3 23.5 11th 13.6 +0.5 7.6 15th 89.4 40.3 high 222%
Ooralea Racecourse (Mackay Turf Club) 23.0   25.4 13th 11.6   4.0 15th 14.8
Proserpine Airport 24.1 -0.4 26.3 13th 11.2 0.0 2.5 16th 44.4 23.8 high 187%
Samuel Hill Aero 23.3 +0.7 26.2 13th 10.1 +0.4 1.6 15th 84.4 67.3 high 125%
St Lawrence 24.8 +0.7 27.5 13th 10.8 -0.2 3.2 15th 33.4 43.5 high 77%
Townsville- Fanning River (Defence) 23.9   26.2 1st 11.4   4.5 16th 66.0
Williamson 24.9 +0.9 27.5 13th 9.9 -0.1 1.2 18th 22.6 34.7 average 65%
Woolshed 21.9 -0.1 24.2 30th 10.0 -0.8 2.4 19th 37.4 22.6 high 165%
Yeppoon The Esplanade 22.0 +0.6 25.4 13th 12.6 +0.5 5.6 19th 57.2 43.5 high 131%
West Central Coast (district 34)
Charters Towers Airport 24.6 -0.4 27.0 30th 11.5 -0.1 4.9 16th 42.8 20.1 high 213%
Moranbah Airport 24.5   27.5 24th 8.5   1.1 19th 11.6
Central Highlands (district 35)
Blackwater Airport 24.5   27.7 24th 9.6   2.6 15th 17.2
Clermont Airport 23.4   26.6 24th 6.5   -1.6 15th 15.6 28.3 high 55%
Emerald Airport 23.8 +0.4 26.9 24th 10.2 +1.1 3.9 15th 24.0 17.4 high 138%
Lochington 23.5   27.2 24th 7.5   1.4 15th 24.6
Rolleston Airport 23.1   26.6 24th 7.1   0.4 15th 16.0 19.5 average 82%
Springsure Comet St 22.8 +0.6 26.1 24th 7.8 +1.4 -0.8 15th 25.4 28.3 average 90%
Tambo Post Office 23.2 +1.9 26.8 23rd 5.0 +1.3 -2.0 18th 4.7 26.5 average 18%
Taroom Post Office 23.4 +2.2 27.7 23rd 6.2 +1.0 0.2 19th 2.2 32.8 low 7%
Central Lowlands (district 36)
Barcaldine Post Office 24.6 +1.9 29.9 31st 9.4 +1.3 3.0 31st 13.6 22.2 average 61%
Blackall Airport 23.9 +1.1 27.2 23rd 7.6 +1.0 -0.1 18th 9.2 14.5 average 63%
Isisford Post Office 24.9 +2.2 28.6 23rd 7.9 +1.3 2.2 19th 2.4 20.4 average 12%
Longreach Aero 25.6 +2.0 28.7 25th 8.6 +1.4 1.7 20th 1.0 18.3 average 5%
Upper Western (district 37)
Camooweal Township 27.9 +2.0 30.9 30th 10.0 +1.2 5.2 20th 0 5.4 lowest 0%
Carters Bore 25.5   28.8 22nd 13.0   8.5 15th 0
New May Downs 25.8   29.1 22nd 12.1   7.3 4th 0
The Monument Airport 24.9 +0.6 28.4 22nd 6.4 -0.9 2.2 19th 0 7.8 v low 0%
Trepell Airport 25.5 +0.6 28.6 22nd 8.3 0.0 2.1 15th 0 5.2 v low 0%
Urandangi Aerodrome 26.2   29.6 30th 6.4   1.6 20th 0
Winton Airport 26.2 +0.9 29.6 23rd 8.8 -0.1 3.0 20th 3.2 14.2 average 23%
Lower Western (district 38)
Bedourie 24.0 +0.9 28.1 22nd 7.1 -0.5 2.3 15th 0 10.4 lowest 0%
Birdsville Airport 23.3 +1.4 27.0 28th 7.0 -0.1 2.6 3rd 0 3.9 lowest 0%
Windorah Airport 23.7   27.1 22nd 8.0   2.2 15th 4.0
Port Curtis South Coast (district 39)
Bundaberg Aero 24.3 +2.1 27.0 24th 10.5 +0.2 5.1 15th 5.2 38.6 low 13%
Gayndah Airport 24.3 +1.5 27.0 24th 7.3 0.0 2.2 15th 0.2 18.7 v low 1%
Gladstone Airport 24.5 +1.4 27.4 13th 12.9 +0.9 6.4 15th 3.8 28.3 low 13%
Gladstone Radar 24.6 +1.6 27.9 13th 14.9 +1.4 9.1 15th 3.4 34.2 low 10%
Lady Elliot Island 22.9 +1.7 24.9 22nd 17.2 +0.5 13.0 17th 7.0 87.6 v low 8%
Monto Township 23.4 +2.3 26.7 24th 6.2 +0.8 -1.4 15th 4.5 34.5 low 13%
Rockhampton Aero 25.2 +2.0 27.8 30th 11.0 +1.3 4.6 15th 32.6 31.8 high 103%
Sandy Cape Lighthouse 23.0 +1.8 24.8 25th 15.8 +1.5 10.8 15th 6.9 87.3 v low 8%
Seventeen Seventy 22.3 +0.9 24.6 12th 14.5 +0.6 7.8 15th 27.6 39.8 average 69%
Thangool Airport 24.4 +1.1 27.5 24th 7.0 +1.3 -2.0 15th 3.2 27.6 low 12%
Moreton South Coast (district 40)
Amberley AMO 24.0 +2.7 27.3 23rd 5.1 -0.3 -3.2 15th 7.2 37.2 low 19%
Archerfield Airport 23.1 +1.8 26.4 24th 8.4 +0.8 4.3 20th 16.8 46.6 low 36%
Beaudesert Drumley Street 23.5 +2.0 27.1 24th 5.6 -0.5 -2.9 15th 3.2 22.6 v low 14%
Beerburrum Forest Station 22.9 +1.1 26.8 24th 9.7 +0.4 5.6 15th 33.8 62.4 average 54%
Brisbane 23.5 +1.5 27.1 23rd 11.4 +1.1 7.4 12th 14.4 24.7 average 58%
Brisbane Aero 22.0 +1.1 26.3 24th 10.1 +0.9 4.7 16th 15.8 27.7 average 57%
Canungra (Defence) 22.4   26.8 24th 4.1   -3.4 15th 6.4
Cape Moreton Lighthouse 20.7 +1.7 22.0 28th 15.2 +1.9 9.9 15th 23.6 112.6 low 21%
Coolangatta 22.0 +1.3 24.5 13th 9.7 -0.4 0.9 15th 22.2 68.4 low 32%
Double Island Point Lighthouse 21.5 +1.9 25.1 27th 15.7 +1.6 8.7 15th 23.4 82.6 low 28%
Gold Coast Seaway 22.4 +1.2 26.2 24th 12.2 +0.2 5.8 14th 22.6 45.6 average 50%
Greenbank (Defence) 23.1   26.6 24th 5.8   0.5 19th 21.4
Gympie 23.4 +1.5 27.1 24th 7.5 +1.2 0.3 17th 11.0 51.3 low 21%
Hervey Bay Airport 23.0 +1.2 25.0 13th 9.9 -0.1 3.0 17th 7.6 39.0 low 19%
Kingaroy Airport 21.1 +1.4 24.5 23rd 4.1 +0.4 -3.8 15th 2.4 21.5 low 11%
Logan City Water Treatment Plant 22.8 +1.3 26.9 24th 10.0 +1.2 3.8 16th 28.8 33.8 average 85%
Maryborough 23.8 +1.7 26.9 24th 8.4 -0.3 -0.1 15th 11.8 51.0 low 23%
Nambour Daff - Hillside 22.6 +1.0 26.4 24th 10.3 -0.3 4.9 15th 52.6 49.9 average 105%
Point Lookout 22.5 +1.4 24.6 24th 14.6 +0.9 8.8 15th 20.4 97.6 v low 21%
Rainbow Beach 22.9 +1.6 25.2 27th       18.6 66.0 low 28%
Redcliffe     26.6 24th 11.7 +0.6 7.3 16th 19.8 27.6 average 72%
Redland (Alexandra Hills) 21.8   25.3 24th 10.7   6.8 14th 28.0
Sunshine Coast Airport 22.0 +0.9 26.0 24th 10.5 +0.9 2.6 15th 55.4 63.6 average 87%
Tewantin RSL Park 22.5 +1.2 26.5 24th 11.7 +0.5 5.5 15th 25.4 66.6 low 38%
Tin Can Bay (Defence) 22.7   26.5 24th 10.3   1.7 15th 25.0
University of Queensland Gatton 23.5 +2.7 27.2 23rd 6.6 +0.4 0.7 20th 3.8 36.1 low 11%
East Darling Downs (district 41)
Applethorpe 16.5 +2.4 20.0 2nd 2.2 +0.3 -6.1 19th 4.6 42.4 v low 11%
Dalby Airport 22.0 +2.2 25.4 23rd 3.1 -1.0 -4.8 15th 0.2 21.9 v low 1%
Oakey Aero 21.2 +2.5 24.6 23rd 3.2 +0.3 -4.5 16th 0 28.2 lowest 0%
Stanthorpe Leslie Parade 17.3 +2.4 20.9 2nd 1.0 0.0 -7.0 19th 1.5 48.0 v low 3%
Texas Post Office 21.2 +2.4 24.2 23rd 3.8 +0.1 -2.8 16th 1.4 41.0 v low 3%
Toowoomba Airport 18.5 +1.8 22.4 23rd 7.6 +1.0 0.0 15th 6.2 26.6 low 23%
Warwick 20.3 +2.2 23.8 23rd 2.7 -0.3 -5.0 17th 0.8 24.3 v low 3%
West Darling Downs (district 42)
Miles Constance Street 22.1 +1.8 26.4 23rd 4.1 -0.2 -2.3 20th 0.2 16.7 v low 1%
Maranoa (district 43)
Injune Post Office 22.3 +2.1 26.4 23rd 3.7 +0.5 -2.5 20th 3.4 28.8 low 12%
Mitchell Post Office 21.5 +2.1 27.0 23rd 3.4 +0.5 -2.5 15th 6.6 32.8 low 20%
Roma Airport 22.3 +2.0 26.9 23rd 3.6 -0.2 -3.2 15th 4.4 21.7 low 20%
St George Airport 21.5 +1.8 26.2 23rd 5.4 +0.2 0.0 14th 2.6 23.9 v low 11%
Surat 21.6 +1.9 25.9 23rd 4.6 +0.3 -1.0 19th 8.0 37.6 low 21%
Warrego (district 44)
Bollon Mary St 21.6 +2.5 25.5 23rd 5.8 +1.6 0.7 14th 4.2 27.4 low 15%
Charleville Aero 22.3 +2.6 26.1 23rd 5.3 +1.0 -1.8 15th 1.8 24.1 low 7%
Cunnamulla Post Office 21.2 +2.4 25.0 22nd 7.2 +1.4 2.7 14th 9.0 22.4 average 40%
Far Southwest (district 45)
Ballera Gas Field 21.9 +1.2 25.8 21st 8.4 +1.0 4.0 15th 1.0 5.4 average 19%
Thargomindah Airport 21.3 +1.0 24.9 21st 7.5 +0.9 2.5 14th 1.4 11.6 average 12%
Offshore Islands (district 200)
Cato Island 22.5   24.6 13th 19.4   16.5 23rd
Creal Reef 22.6   23.8 6th 20.4   17.8 16th
Flinders Reef 24.0   25.9 2nd 21.4   19.2 2nd
Gannet Cay 22.9   24.5 13th 20.4   17.4 16th
Holmes Reef 24.4   25.6 4th 22.1   19.4 1st
Marion Reef 24.0   25.4 6th 21.7   19.7 2nd
Middle Percy Island 20.8 +0.1 22.4 31st 16.8 +0.3 13.5 15th 47.0 47.8 average 98%
Willis Island 26.6 +0.6 27.6 5th 22.6 +0.6 20.7 1st 10.6 39.0 low 27%

Notes

The Monthly climate summary, generally published on the first working day of each month, lists the main features of the weather in Queensland using the most timely and accurate information available on the date of publication; it will generally not be updated. More extensive discussion of significant weather events, along with later information and data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 10 am on Thursday 1 August 2019. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

In some situations, some or all of the rainfall is in the form of hail or snow. In these cases the totals given are for the water equivalent: the depth of liquid water that results from melting any frozen precipitation. There can be significant 'undercatch' of snow in strong winds, meaning the true precipitation can be higher than that reported.

Averages for individual sites are long-term means based on observations from all available years of record, which vary widely from site to site. They are not shown for sites with less than 10 years of record, as they cannot then be calculated reliably.
The median is sometimes more representative than the mean of long-term average rain.

The Rank indicates how rainfall this time compares with the climate record for the site, based on the decile ranking (very low rainfall is in decile 1, low in decile 2 or 3, average in decile 4 to 7, high in decile 8 or 9 and very high is in decile 10).
The Fraction of average shows how much rain has fallen this time as a percentage of the long-term mean.

Where temperature area averages are mentioned, they are derived from the ACORN-SAT dataset.

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057
Enquiries

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